Tom Watson (born 13 July 1982) is an English mixed martial artist currently competing in the welterweight division of Cage Warriors.
In 2008, he began to climb the ladder again by beating Pierre Guillet and John Phillips, but Cage Rage went into liquidation and he then went to Ultimate Challenge MMA.
He won the fight by knocking his opponent out less than two minutes into the first round to win the inaugural Ultimate Challenge UK title.
He returned to Ultimate Challenge UK: Dynamite in October 2009 to take on Denniston Sutherland, and defeated him via split decision.
[citation needed] On 10 January 2010, Watson signed a three-fight deal with the Maximum Fighting Championship, a Canadian promotion.
[citation needed] On 27 June 2009, Watson fought at the British Association of Mixed Martial Arts' first event, BAMMA 1: The Fighting Premiership.
He was then scheduled to fight Celebrity Big Brother winner Alex Reid for the vacant Middleweight Championship at BAMMA 3 in May 2010.
After miraculously freeing himself from a rear-naked choke in the first round, Watson went on to dominate the fight with his superior striking and won via unanimous decision (48-47, 49–47, 49-46) to become the first BAMMA Middleweight Champion.
[13] On 21 May 2011, he faced former EliteXC Middleweight Champion Murilo Rua at Wembley Arena in London, England, defeating the PRIDE FC veteran by KO due to head kick followed up by punches in the third round, and defending his BAMMA Middleweight Title in the process.
[15] After successfully defending his BAMMA Middleweight Championship title three times, Watson signed a contract with the UFC in July 2012.
[30] Due to complete lack of events in BAMMA, Watson was announced to have signed with Cage Warriors and will be moving down to welterweight division.
[31] Watson was expected to face Aaron Khalid at Cage Warriors 104, but on the fight day he was not medically cleared and was forced off the card.